The United States Department of Agriculture announced that Illinois businesses and farmers will be awarded $1.76 million in grants and loan guarantees in an effort to construct renewable energy systems and improve energy efficiency throughout the state.

“It was a good year for the state of Illinois,” said Doug Wilson, director of the Illinois Rural Development State Office. “The overall dollar wasn’t as high as other years, but we’re still able to help businesses and farmers.”

The Department’s Rural Development’s Section 9006 Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements program has made these grants possible. It supplies monetary assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses constructing renewable energy projects, reducing energy consumption and improving energy operations, according to a press release.

George Gross, professor in electrical and computer engineering, said energy efficiency is important to every state, not just Illinois.

“If you have a refrigerator and it’s not efficient, then you go out to the store and buy a more efficient refrigerator,” Gross said. “You save money every hour on the hour with your new fridge because it isn’t using as much energy as before. Energy efficiency is the best way to limit pollution, save money for the producer and consumer, so essentially everyone is saving money when we’re more efficient.”

The money will aid 17 different businesses and farmers who call Illinois home.

The diversity of the selected projects is an excellent sign for energy systems in Illinois, Wilson said.

“It’s hard to pick just one recipient in particular that will have the biggest effect on the state,” Wilson said. “But the farmers that received grain dryers this year will save up to one-third in their overall energy costs. The new dryers will use less electricity and less natural gas because they are more efficient.”

Among the bigger projects selected were Adkins Energy LLC, a corn ethanol refinery that produces 45 million gallons of ethanol a year. The company received $698,000 in loan and grant funds to be used to swell biodiesel production from corn oil.

The Village Market IGA in Champaign County will use its grant money to strengthen its grocery store’s energy efficiency.

“Grocery stores have the highest energy usage per square foot for commercial businesses so a company like ours can really benefit from the grant.” Village Market IGA president Brooks Marsh said.